Air pumping device, air pumping method, and airbed assembly

ABSTRACT

An air pumping device includes an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from an inflatable article. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting. An air pumping method and an airbed assembly are also disclosed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Chinese Application No. 200920059577.4, filed Jun. 26, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an air pumping device, an air pumping method, and an airbed assembly with an air pump that is automatically deactivated upon completion of counting of a predetermined time period.

2. Description of the Related Art

Airbed assemblies have increased in popularity due to ease of transport and reduction of storage space. A conventional airbed assembly includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a control unit, and a remote controller. The remote controller has a function key and sends a control signal to the control unit to activate the air pump when the function key is pressed. However, in order to continuously activate the air pump to inject air into the inflatable article, the user is required to continuously press the function key of the controller, otherwise the air pump will be deactivated upon release of the function key of the controller. Since the time required to inflate the inflatable article is at least several minutes, the user must continuously press the function key of the controller for such a time period which is inconvenient. The same drawback is encountered when deflating the inflatable article.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an air pumping device, an air pumping method, and an airbed assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

According to one aspect of this invention, there is provided an air pumping device that is adapted for injecting air into or removing air from an inflatable article. The air pumping device comprises an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting.

According to another aspect of this invention, there is provided an air pumping method to be implemented by an inflation system that includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit. The air pumping method comprises: receiving a control signal by the control unit; simultaneously activating the air pump to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article and triggering the counting unit to count a predetermined time period in response to the control signal by the control unit; and deactivating the air pump upon completion of counting by the control unit.

According to yet another aspect of this invention, there is provided an airbed assembly that comprises an inflatable article formed with an opening and an air pumping device including an inflation module. The inflation module includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to the air pump and the counting unit. The air pump is configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article through the opening. The counting unit is configured to count a predetermined time period. The control unit is configured to receive a control signal, to activate the air pump and trigger counting of the counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of this invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of an airbed assembly according to this invention, illustrating a state where the airbed assembly is not inflated;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an air pumping device of the preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating an air pumping method using the air pumping device of the preferred embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment, illustrating a state where the airbed assembly is fully inflated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the preferred embodiment of an inflation system, such as an airbed assembly 100, according to this invention includes an inflatable article 1 and an air pumping device 2. The inflatable article 1 is formed with an opening 11. The air pumping device 2 includes a controller 200 and an inflation module 20.

The controller 200 is a remote controller and is provided with first and second function keys 201, 202. The controller 200 is configured to generate a control signal upon actuation of one of the function keys 201, 202. The control signal can indicate which one of the function keys 201, 202 is actuated. The controller 200 is further configured to output the control signal wirelessly by using infrared (IR) communication, Bluetooth® communication, or radio frequency (RF) communication, etc. It is noted that the controller 200 may output the control signal to the inflation module 20 through a cable in another embodiment.

The inflation module 20 is disposed in the inflatable article 1, is exposed partially from the opening 11 of the inflatable article 1, and includes a control interface 21, a receiving unit 22, a control unit 23, a counting unit 24, an air pump 25, and a valve 26.

The control interface 21 is exposed from the opening 11 of the inflatable article 1, is formed with a through-hole 211, and is provided with a switch 212, a sensing area 213, and a power line 214. The switch 212 is switchable between a first state (e.g., when rotated fully in a clockwise direction) and a second state (e.g., when rotated fully in a counterclockwise direction). The power line 214 is adapted to be coupled to an external power source (not shown) so as to receive power therefrom.

The receiving unit 22 is a wireless receiver and is disposed behind the sensing area 213 of the control interface 21 and is configured to receive the control signal wirelessly and to output the control signal. The counting unit 24 is configured to count a predetermined time period, to generate a stop signal upon completion of counting, and to output the stop signal.

The air pump 25 is disposed behind the through-hole 211 of the control interface 21 and is configured to inject air into the inflatable article 1 through the through-hole 211 when the switch 212 is in the first state and to remove air from the inflatable article 1 through the through-hole 211 when the switch 212 is in the second state.

The valve 26 is coupled to the air pump 25 and the inflatable article 1 and is operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from the air pump 25 to the inflatable article 1 and to be closed when pressure within the inflatable article 1 is over a predetermined value.

The control unit 23 is coupled to the receiving unit 22, the counting unit 24, the air pump 25 and the switch 212 of the control interface 21.

The air pumping method implemented by the air pumping device 2 includes the steps shown in FIG. 3.

In step 10, the control unit 23 is configured to receive the control signal from the receiving unit 22.

In step 20, the control unit 23 is configured to set the predetermined time period based on at least one of the state of the switch 212 of the control interface 21 and the control signal. For example, the predetermined time period is set to 4 minutes when the switch 212 is in the first state and the control signal indicates the first function key 201 of the controller 200 is actuated, to 5 minutes and 30 seconds when the switch 212 is in the second state and the control signal indicates the first function key 201 is actuated, and to 1 second when the control signal indicates the second function key 202 of the controller 200 is actuated.

In step 30, the control unit 23 is configured to simultaneously activate the air pump 25 and trigger counting of the counting unit 24 in response to the control signal.

In step 40, the control unit 23 is configured to deactivate the air pump 25 upon completion of counting, i.e., the control unit 23 receives the stop signal from the counting unit 24 and deactivates the air pump 25 in response to the stop signal.

In operation, the switch 212 of the control interface 21 is switched to the first state first, and then the first function key 201 of the controller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of the first function key 201. Next, the control unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 4 minutes, and the air pump 25 is activated for 4 minutes in response to the control signal so as to inject air into the inflatable article 1. As a result, the inflatable article 1 is inflated to a predetermined full state (see FIG. 4).

In order to deflate the inflatable article 1, the switch 212 of the control interface 21 is switched to the second state first, and then the first function key 201 of the controller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of the first function key 201.

Next, the control unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 5 minutes and 30 seconds, and the air pump 25 is activated for 5 minutes and 30 seconds in response to the control signal so as to remove air from the inflatable article 1. As a result, the inflatable article 1 is fully deflated.

In order to increase pressure within the inflatable article 1 after inflation, the switch 212 of the control interface 21 is switched to the first state first, and then the second function key 202 of the controller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of the second function key 202. Next, the control unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 1 second, and the air pump 25 is activated for 1 second in response to the control signal so as to inject an extra amount of air into the inflatable article 1.

In order to reduce pressure within the inflatable article 1 after inflation, the switch 212 of the control interface 21 is switched to the second state first, and then the second function key 202 of the controller 200 is actuated (pressed) to generate the control signal which carries operating information corresponding to actuation of the second function key 202. Next, the control unit 23 sets the predetermined time period to 1 second, and the air pump 25 is activated for 1 second in response to the control signal so as to remove an amount of air from the inflatable article 1. This procedure may also be used after deflation when the inflatable article 1 has not been fully deflated.

In sum, with the inclusion of the counting unit 24, the air pump 25 is activated for a predetermined time period each time one of the function keys 201, 202 of the controller is actuated. Hence, the user need not continuously press the first function key 201 of the controller 200 during inflation or deflation of the inflatable article 1. Moreover, by actuating the second function key 202, it is possible to perform minor adjustments to the inflation level of the inflatable article 1 or to remove air remaining in the inflatable article 1 to ensure full deflation thereof. While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation and equivalent arrangements. 

1. An air pumping device adapted for injecting air into or removing air from an inflatable article, comprising: an inflation module including an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to said air pump and said counting unit, said air pump being configured to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article, said counting unit being configured to count a predetermined time period, said control unit being configured to receive a control signal, to activate said air pump and trigger counting of said counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate said air pump upon completion of counting.
 2. The air pumping device of claim 1, further comprising a controller provided with a plurality of function keys and configured to generate the control signal upon actuation of one of said function keys and to output the control signal.
 3. The air pumping device of claim 2, wherein said inflation module further includes a receiving unit coupled to said control unit and configured to receive the control signal and output the control signal to said control unit.
 4. The air pumping device of claim 3, wherein said controller outputs the control signal wirelessly and said receiving unit of said inflation module receives the control signal wirelessly.
 5. The air pumping device of claim 2, wherein said control unit is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
 6. The air pumping device of claim 1, wherein said inflation module further includes a switch coupled to said air pump and said control unit and switchable between a first state and a second state, said air pump being configured to inject air into the inflatable article when said switch is in the first state and to remove air from the inflatable article when said switch is in the second state.
 7. The air pumping device of claim 6, wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the state of said switch.
 8. The air pumping device of claim 1, wherein said inflation module further includes a valve coupled to said air pump and the inflatable article and operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from said air pump to the inflatable article and to be closed when pressure within the inflatable article is over a predetermined value.
 9. An air pumping method to be implemented by an inflation system that includes an inflatable article, an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit, the air pumping method comprising: receiving a control signal by the control unit; configuring the control unit to activate the air pump to one of inject air into and remove air from the inflatable article, and to trigger the counting unit to count a predetermined time period in response to the control signal by the control unit; and configuring the control unit to deactivate the air pump upon completion of counting by the control unit.
 10. The air pumping method of claim 9, further comprising configuring the control unit to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
 11. An airbed assembly, comprising: an inflatable article formed with an opening; and an air pumping device including an inflation module that includes an air pump, a counting unit, and a control unit coupled to said air pump and said counting unit, said air pump being configured to one of inject air into and remove air from said inflatable article through said opening, said counting unit being configured to count a predetermined time period, said control unit being configured to receive a control signal, to activate said air pump and trigger counting of said counting unit in response to the control signal, and to deactivate said air pump upon completion of counting.
 12. The airbed assembly of claim 11, wherein said air pumping device further includes a controller provided with a plurality of function keys and configured to generate the control signal upon actuation of one of said function keys and to output the control signal.
 13. The airbed assembly of claim 12, wherein said inflation module further includes a receiving unit coupled to said control unit and configured to receive the control signal and output the control signal to said control unit.
 14. The airbed assembly of claim 13, wherein said controller outputs the control signal wirelessly and said receiving unit of said inflation module receives the control signal wirelessly.
 15. The airbed assembly of claim 12, wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the control signal.
 16. The airbed assembly of claim 11, wherein said inflation module further includes a switch coupled to said air pump and said control unit and switchable between a first state and a second state, said air pump being configured to inject air into said inflatable article when said switch is in the first state and to remove air from said inflatable article when said switch is in the second state.
 17. The airbed assembly of claim 16, wherein said control unit of said inflation module is further configured to set the predetermined time period based on the state of said switch.
 18. The airbed assembly of claim 11, wherein said inflation module further includes a valve coupled to said air pump and said inflatable article and operable to be normally open so as to allow air to flow from said air pump to said inflatable article and to be closed when pressure within said inflatable article is over a predetermined value. 